EFFECT OF ZWIEBACK, A CRISP BREAD CONTAINING RED PALM OIL, ON SERUM ANTIOXIDANT AND INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS IN WOMEN WITH BENIGN BREAST TUMOURS
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21894/jopr.2026.0002
Received: 17 February 2025 Accepted: 23 October 2025 Published Online: 8 January 2026
This study investigated the effect of replacing margarine with red palm oil (RPO) in Zwieback on serum antioxidant and inflammation biomarkers in women with benign breast tumours. Using a double-blind, randomised controlled trial, 15 participants were divided into a control group (n = 8) and a treatment group (n = 7). The treatment group consumed Zwieback with RPO, providing 5.04 mg/day of β-carotene for eight weeks, while the control group received Zwieback without RPO. Results showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in SOD activity in both groups. A reduction of TNF-α, 8-isoprostane levels, and tumour size (p<0.05) was observed in the treatment group. However, the between-group difference in tumour size was not statistically significant after adjustment. The control group experienced a significant decline (p<0.05) in β-carotene levels. These findings suggest that adequate antioxidant intake, particularly β-carotene, may help maintain serum β-carotene levels and enhance antioxidant capacity. The consumption of Zwieback substituted with RPO may have beneficial effects on oxidative stress and inflammation, which are factors linked to cancer risk.
KEYWORDS:1 Department of Community Nutrition,
Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University,
Bogor, West Java 16610, Indonesia.
2 Department of Nutrition Science,
Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro,
Semarang, Central Java 50275, Indonesia.
3 Nutrition Study Program,
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Negeri Medan,
North Sumatra 22022, Indonesia.
* Corresponding author e-mail: rimbawan@apps.ipb.ac.id